Extended Periods of Alcohol Intake Negatively Affects Osseointegration in Rats.

The negative effects of chronic and excessive consumption of alcohol on bone metabolism are reported in the literature. Alcoholism causes a reduction in bone quality and delays fracture repair, among other deleterious effects. However, its effect on osseointegration in dental implants is not fully established. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of prolonged and excessive consumption of alcohol on osseointegration in rats. Thirty-five female rats, 3 months of age, were divided into five groups according to alcohol consumption period: control (no alcohol), and 3, 4, 5, and 6 months of alcohol consumption. All animals received solid food ad libitum. At 8 months of age, all animals received a dental implant in the right femur, and euthanasia was performed 1 month after the implant placement (final n = 27). Quantification of the percentage of bone-implant direct contact was performed by histomorphometry. Serum levels of calcium and phosphate were also measured. The groups that consumed alcohol for longer periods presented decreased percentages of bone-implant direct contact. The difference was higher in implants apical region. Alcohol consumption did not affect serum calcium levels but raised the level of serum phosphate. Alcohol consumption increased caloric intake but also increased weight loss. It was concluded that chronic and excessive consumption of alcohol can impair osseointegration in rats.

Taste alteration, mouth dryness and teeth staining as side effects of medications taken by elderly

Elderly patients generally use several types of medication, some of which may cause oral side effects. Aim: To investigate the oral side effects caused by medication in an elderly sample. Methods: Three hundred patients were interviewed about their use of medication and were divided in two groups: institutionalized (n=150) and community-dwelling (n=150) elderly. Results: The most used drugs were antihypertensives (53%) for community-dwelling elders and antiulceratives (76%) for the institutionalized ones. The more prevalent side effects were taste alterations that occurred in 19%, dry mouth in 17% and teeth staining in 2%. Conclusions: A high prevalence of oral side effects from medications used by the elderly was found in this study. The health professionals should be aware of the possible side effects caused by prescribed medications.

Healing of normal and osteopenic bone with titanium implant and low-level laser therapy (GaAlAs): a histomorphometric study in rats.

The study investigates the influence of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone healing in the femur of osteopenic and normal rats with titanium implants. Ovariectomy and control group were randomly submitted to LLLT, which was applied by gallium-aluminum-arsenium (GaAlAs) laser at the surgical site before and after placing the implant, for seven times. Histomorphometric and statistical analysis were performed. Most irradiated groups showed higher values than the nonirradiated groups. The GaAlAs infrared diode laser may improve the osseointegration process in osteopenic and normal bone, particularly based on its effects in the initial phase of bone formation.

Negative effects of alcohol intake and estrogen deficiency combination on osseointegration in a rat model.

Alcohol intake and estrogen deficiency can both affect bone physiology and have shown to have an adverse effect on dental implant therapy. However, the combination of both factors on osseointegration is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate osseointegration in rats fed with alcohol and presenting induced estrogen deficiency. Ninety-six female rats were divided according to diet and hormonal condition into 6 groups as follows: group Sh-W: sham (simulated ovariectomy) control, food and water ad libitum; group Sh-Et: sham, food and 20% ethanol solution ad libitum; group Sh-Su: sham, food and sucrose solution controlled to ensure an isocaloric diet in relation to Sh-Et; group Ov-W: ovariectomy, food and water ad libitum; group Ov-Et: ovariectomy, food and 20% ethanol solution ad libitum; and group Ov-Su: ovariectomy, food and sucrose solution controlled to ensure an isocaloric diet as Ov-Et. The groups were subdivided according to time of euthanasia: 30 and 45 days after placement of implants. Implant surgery was performed 1 month after ovariectomy or sham. After euthanasia, the femurs were removed and evaluated by histomorphometry. Groups Ov-Et and Ov-Su showed the lowest percentage of bone-to-implant contact. The combination of alcohol intake and estrogen deficiency, and the combination of estrogen deficiency and reduced ingestion of food can negatively affect osseointegration in rats.

Comparação da atividade antimicrobiana de soluções de peróxido de hidrogênio e malva sobre candida albicans / Comparison of hydrogen peroxide and malva mouthrinses antimicrobial activity on candida albicans

O estudo avaliou a atividade antimicrobiana de enxaguatórios bucais sobre Candida albicans. Vinte e uma amostras clínicas e uma padrão de C. albicans (ATCC 18804) foram testadas frente à enxaguatórios à base de peróxido de hidrogênio 1,5% e tintura de malva. Solução de gluconato de clorexidina 0,12% foi utilizada como controle positivo e foram obtidos valores para máxima diluição inibitória (MDI) e máxima diluição fungicida (MDF). Foram obtidas diluições seriadas dos produtos (50% a 0,02%), e adicionadas 100μL de suspensão de cada cepa e foram incubadas a 37°C/24h, e a MDI determinada. As amostras foram semeadas em ágar Sabouraud para determinação da MDF. Para a solução à base de peróxido de hidrogênio a MDI=0,78% para 86,35% das amostras e MDF=3,1% para 77,27% das amostras. Para a solução à base de gluconato de clorexidina, a MDI foi de 0,2% e 0,1% para 72,7% das amostras e MDF foi de 1,56% e 0,78% para 90,9% das amostras. Para a solução à base de tintura de malva a MDI foi de 1,56% e 0,78% para 72,72% das amostras e não houve atividade fungicida para 54,54% das amostras. A análise estatística (ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis, α=5%) mostrou diferenças significativas entre os valores médios de MDI (p=0,000) e de MDF (p=0,003). Concluiu-se que a solução à base de gluconato de clorexidina apresentou melhor atividade antimicrobiana sobre C. albicans, seguida pela solução à base de peróxido de hidrogênio. A solução à base de tintura de malva não apresentou atividade fungicida sobre a maioria das cepas de C. albicans.

The study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of mouthrinses on Candida albicans. Twenty-one clinical isolates and one reference strain of C. albicans (ATCC 18804) were tested with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide and malva tincture based mouthrinses. Chlorhexidine gluconate solution (0.12%) was included as positive control and values of maximum inhibitory dilution (MID) and maximum fungicide dilution (MFD) values were obtained. Serial dilutions of the products were obtained, from 50% to 0.02%, and added 100μL of suspension of each strain that were incubated at 37°C for 24h, and the MID was determinated. Samples were plated in Sabouraud agar for the determination of MFD. Results obtained for hydrogen peroxide-based solution was 0.78% for MID to most of the isolates (86.35%) and MFD was 3.1% for 77.27% of the samples. For chlorhexidine-based solution, MID was 0.2% and 0.1% for most of the isolates (72.7%) and MFD was 1.56% and 0.78% for 90.9% of the strains. For malva tincture-based solution, MID values were between 1.56% and 0.78% for 72.72% of the isolates and no fungicide activity for 54.54% of the isolates was observed. Statistical analyses of the results (ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis, α=5%) showed significant differences among the mean values of MID (p=0.000) and of MFD (p=0.003). It could be concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate-based solution showed the best antimicrobial activity on C. albicans, followed by hydrogen peroxide-based solution. Malva tincture-based solution did not show fungicide activity on most of the C. albicans isolates tested.

General health of elderly institutionalised and community-dwelling Brazilians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the heart rate, blood pressure, blood glucose and other important indicators of the general health of an elderly population of São José dos Campos, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 institutionalised and 150 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 years or more. The parameters evaluated were heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose. The elderly also answered a questionnaire about osteoporosis, falls, physical exercising, participation in social events, type of foods ingested, Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases and medication. RESULTS: The institutionalised elderly showed an average heart rate of 75.1, while that of the community-dwelling elderly was 76.7. The percentage of systolic hypertension in the institutionalised and community-dwelling groups was 36% and 30% respectively, while diastolic hypertension showed a percentage of 40% and 57%, and diabetes was 32% and 30%. Among the institutionalised and community-dwelling groups, 13.3% and 21.3% respectively, reported osteoporosis, 31.3% and 42.7% falls, 7.3% and 24% exercised regularly, 4% and 69.3% participated regularly in social events, 58.7% and 51.3% reported eating solid foods, and 13.3% and 2%, respectively, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Parkinson's disease was reported by 2% in both groups. The institutionalised elderly reported taking an average of 3.2 medications, while among community-dwelling elderly this number was 1.8. CONCLUSION: The entire sample presented a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis. No significant differences were found in the systemic health of the elderly institutionalised and community-dwelling groups. However, the latter group reported more frequent falls, participation in social events and exercised regularly.